Dragons upend Destroyers, 62-41, at Nassau Coliseum

Published on March 20, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


LONG ISLAND, NY – The Columbus Destroyers (1-6) trekked their way to New York with hopes of ending a five-game losing streak, however found themselves on the wrong side of the ledger after 60 minutes of play, dropping a 62-41 decision to the New York Dragons (4-3) at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Saturday night.

Quarterback John Rayborn made his second start for the Destroyers this season, completing 21-of-41 pass attempts for 248 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. Rayborn's 41 pass attempts were the most of any Destroyers quarterback this season. Destroyers wide receiver/linebacker Cornelius White had a career game Saturday night, recording career highs in receptions and receiving yards as he finished the game with 11 receptions for 154 yards and three receiving touchdowns. New York's offensive attack was led by veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia who finished with seven passing touchdowns after completing 14-of-21 pass attempts for 203 yards. New York wide receiver/defensive back William Holder led the Dragons in receiving with four catches for 72 yards and three touchdowns.

The Dragons jumped out to the early lead three minutes into the contest following a 9-yard touchdown connection between Garcia and wide receiver/linebacker Cosmo DeMatteo to give New York a 7-0 first quarter advantage. However, the Destroyers quickly responded with a score of their own on a one-play strike as Rayborn hooked up with White for a 32-yard touchdown reception. Rayborn found White on his first pass attempt of the game on a curl pattern at the New York 20 yard line. White then did the rest of the work, leaving multiple would-be New York tacklers on his heels before notching his twelfth touchdown of the season.

New York would score consecutive touchdowns to claim a 14-point advantage late in the first, however Columbus kept pace as Rayborn found a streaking Sedrick Robinson who had gained a step on his defender across the middle of the field for a 35-yard score. The touchdown reception was the second on the season for Robinson and cut the Dragons' lead in half at the end of the first quarter.

Following a New York touchdown, the Destroyers followed suit, responding with their third touchdown of the game. Rayborn moved his offense 35 yards down field culminating with White's second touchdown of the game. Rayborn's intended receiver on the play was newcomer offensive specialist Gunnard Twyner, however the pass deflected off Twyner's shoulder up in the air, off the net and in to the conveniently positioned awaiting hands of White to pull Columbus to within seven at 28-21. The Dragons would go on to outscore the Destroyers 14-3 in the final four minutes of the second quarter to take a 42-24 lead into the half.

Columbus opened up the second half with a drive consuming nearly eight minutes of game clock before putting points on the board. Amidst a flurry of penalties on both sides of the ball, the Destroyers eventually settled for a 40-yard field goal courtesy of kicker Steve Videtich, brining Columbus to within two scores of New York midway through the third quarter. The two teams traded touchdowns to close out the third with New York claiming a 49-33 advantage heading into the final quarter of play.

The Dragons extended their lead to 23 on the first play of the fourth quarter after Garcia found Cosmo Dematteo in the back corner of the endzone for a 15-yard score and would never look back, claiming their third consecutive victory.

The Destroyers will be out of action next week as the team has reached their bye week. Columbus will return to the playing field on April 4 when they host the Orlando Predators at Nationwide Arena.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 20, 2004


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